We Can Solve This Podcast

Solution Space Consulting

A podcast, where we break down issues and provide solutions based on research and best practices. We are based in the Caribbean but the conversations have global relevance.  Recording Studio: Creative Sounds, Kingston, Jamaica Host: Natasha Levy Executive Producer: Ruth Chisholm  Co-producer: Kellie Magnus Digital Communication: Hayles by Design, Ruth Chisholm and Cait-Amoi Goulbourne Music: SciField 

Episodes

  1. Modernize without Compromise: Developing our Cities via Social Urbanism

    05/12/2025

    Modernize without Compromise: Developing our Cities via Social Urbanism

    Architect David Cuthbert shares how Jamaica can embrace modern development while preserving its environmental integrity through an approach called social urbanism. He offers practical solutions to balance infrastructure needs with ecological principles, creating urban spaces uniquely designed for Jamaica's tropical climate and cultural context. • Social urbanism focuses on urban decisions for long-term community benefit rather than short-term gains • Kingston's development currently faces problems with removal of old growth trees and excessive hard surfaces • Heat islands form in areas with minimal shade and too many concrete surfaces, making cities uncomfortably hot • Jamaica needs its own development approach rather than copying foreign urban models unsuited to tropical climates • Historical precedents like arcades (overhangs above sidewalks) provided climate-appropriate design solutions • Pocket parks offer small-scale community green spaces that improve urban environments • Current planning regulations need more specificity about environmental requirements • Local community groups, professional organizations, and government agencies must collaborate on solutions • Every Jamaican citizen can contribute by questioning development practices and demanding better designs • Small changes at individual and community levels can drive meaningful improvements in urban environments

    45 min
  2. Understanding Jamaica's Data Protection Act

    04/28/2025

    Understanding Jamaica's Data Protection Act

    Trevor Forrest pulls back the curtain on Jamaica's Data Protection Act in this eye-opening conversation about digital privacy and information security. With over three decades of IT experience, particularly in cybersecurity, Forrest masterfully breaks down a complex piece of legislation into practical, understandable terms that affect every Jamaican. The episode begins by exploring how our relationship with data has evolved dramatically in recent decades. As Forrest explains, we now generate more information in a single year than entire decades produced in the past. This explosion of data has created both opportunities and vulnerabilities, making your personal information incredibly valuable not just to legitimate businesses but also to malicious actors. What makes this conversation particularly valuable is how Forrest dismantles common misconceptions about who the law applies to. Every business that collects personal information - from multinational corporations to your local hairdresser or mechanic - is considered a "data controller" under the law. This means the small shea butter business selling products via Instagram has similar responsibilities to banks and insurance companies when it comes to protecting customer information. Perhaps most empowering for listeners is learning about the unprecedented rights this legislation grants to citizens. You can now demand access to all information a company holds about you, refuse to provide unnecessary personal details during transactions, and expect to be notified within 72 hours if your data is compromised in a breach. These protections align Jamaica with global standards, joining the approximately 75% of countries worldwide that have similar laws. Whether you're running a small business concerned about compliance, or simply want to understand your rights as a consumer in the digital age, this episode provides essential knowledge for navigating Jamaica's increasingly digital landscape. Visit oic.gov.jm to learn more about your rights and responsibilities under the Data Protection Act. Recorded 2024

    47 min

About

A podcast, where we break down issues and provide solutions based on research and best practices. We are based in the Caribbean but the conversations have global relevance.  Recording Studio: Creative Sounds, Kingston, Jamaica Host: Natasha Levy Executive Producer: Ruth Chisholm  Co-producer: Kellie Magnus Digital Communication: Hayles by Design, Ruth Chisholm and Cait-Amoi Goulbourne Music: SciField